John Mellor, (1840-19/10/1879). "warm-hearted and liberal"

 TINKERS.

(From our own correspondent.) Oct. 20th, 1879.

It becomes my sad duty to record another death. Mr. John Mellor, who has for a number of years been trading here as general storekeeper and publican, under the style of J. and G. Mellor; said style being assumed in consequence of another John Mellor being resident here, died in the Dunedin Hospital about 6 o'clock yesterday morning, (Sunday, the 19th). He had been some considerable time ailing, his complaint being dropsy, and had been under treatment at Clyde and Cromwell; and the doctors there not being able to do any good for him, he started for Dunedin on the 12th instant, where, after twice undergoing the operation of tapping, he expired as above stated. I understand the body is to be brought up here, and interred in the Drybread Cemetery. He leaves a widow and six children, tolerably well-provided for, for besides the hotel and storekeeper business he owned shares in several gold mining ventures.  -Mount Ida Chronicle, 25/10/1879.

In another column it is announced that the re-interment of the remains of the late Mr John Mellor, of Tinker’s Gully, who it will be remembered died some short time back in Dunedin after but a short illness, will take place on Sunday next, the 18th inst., in the Matakanui Cemetery; and that the procession to meet the remains will start from his late residence in Tinkers Gully at 12 o’clock sharp; and the body will leave Millward’s White Horse Hotel, where it is anticipated it will arrive on previous evening, at about the same thus. The deceased in life was a strictly honourable and conscientious business man, and by the exercise of good sound judgment, backed by industry and perseverance, had worked himself into a very comfortable position, and had he but lived a few more short years he would have been in a position to retire and live peacefully on his well earned capital. Though a thoroughly strict man in business, he yet was warm-hearted and liberal, and many is the man who owes him a debt of gratitude for the timely relief he afforded, either to help them on the road, or to enable them to prosecute to the end some seat of work commenced. He was a sincere friend and a kind and indulgent husband and parent, and his widow and family and large circle of friends deeply mourn his loss. To pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of deceased we shall hope to see a large concourse present, and assist in carrying out one of his last wishes, viz., that should the worst come he might be buried in the neighbourhood where he had lived so many years.  -Dunstan Times, 16/1/1880.

The remains of the late Mr John Mellor, of Tinkers and Drybread, who, it will be remembered, died in Dunedin some time ago, arrived at the White Horse Hotel, on the evening of the 28th, for interment in the Drybread cemetery, according to a wish expressed by deceased while yet in life. The interment took place on the following day, and was attended by a considerable number of friends from the surrounding districts.  -Otago Witness, 7/2/1880.

The sale of mining property of the late John Mellor, held on the following day at the Victoria Hotel, by Mr. Charles Colclough, fell very flat; only one bid being made in the lot. Some of it has been disposed of privately since, to the parties who hold the other shares in the respective properties, but at figures considerably below what it was fondly hoped to fetch. Water property nowadays is not worth much, except in localities where the existence of payable ground has been proved beyond a doubt.  -Mount Ida Chronicle, 12/2/1880.